My Transgender Journey: Two Life Changing Paths

Introduction

On Wednesday August 24, 2019 (21 Tamuz 5779), the Pardes Summer Program hosted Yiscah Smith (Pardes Faculty) and Abby Stein, an ex-Haredi transgender author and activist. They discussed their gender transition; the feelings and challenges, the pain, the honesty and the joy of their personal stories. It was thought-provoking and inspiring.

One student wrote: “Yesterday’s talk … was transformative, showing how a high level of truthful, personal authenticity can coexist with love of Jewish learning and Jewish practice.”

This recording was part of the Pardes Summer 2019 Program and an ongoing series we are kicking off on the topic of “Identity”. If you are interested in joining us this winter or next summer, please visit www.pardes.org.il/wli or www.pardes.org.il/summer-program for more details.

Credits:
Hosts: Yiscah Smith and Abby Stein
Executive Producer: Adam Titcher
Sound editor and Co-Producer: Evan Feist

Abby Stein is an American transgender author, activist, blogger, model, rabbi, and speaker. She is the first openly transgender woman raised in a Hasidic community, and is a direct descendant of Hasidic Judaism’s founder the Baal Shem Tov.

Yiscah Smith

Yiscah Smith is an adjunct faculty member at Pardes, where she teaches Hasidism and spiritual texts. A spiritual activist, educator, mentor, and meditation guide, Yiscah approaches Judaism as a spiritual practice rooted in the encounter with the Divine spark within and beyond oneself. Yiscah holds a Master’s Degree in Jewish Education from The Jewish Theological Seminary.

Yiscah’s passion is encouraging and empowering others to carve their own paths. Her work takes many forms: faculty at Pardes, Applied Jewish Spirituality, and the Institute for Jewish Spirituality; founder and director of Conscious Community Nachlaot in Jerusalem; international lecturer; and author of Planting Seeds of the Divine: Torah Commentaries to Cultivate Your Spiritual Practice. As an avid gardener, Yiscah also enables her passion for growth to find expression in the natural world.

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